3 positive Mets Spring Training overreactions

2) Positive NY Mets overreaction: Tim Locastro belongs on the Opening Day roster

This is the most outrageous overreaction in my opinion. Tim Locastro hasn’t been a particularly effective MLB player. A few great spring at-bats shouldn’t change our expectations for what he can do and the purpose he will serve for the team in 2023. Locastro is a weapon whose speed and defense will be key in the latter part of the year. Putting him on the Opening Day roster has too many negative consequences. Mainly, the Mets may end up in a bind rather quickly when he doesn’t hit and they need some offense.

What isn’t outrageous is believing Locastro could do more than he has in the past. He’s not nearing retirement. Maybe he just bloomed a little late. He has hit well in the minors before. Some more consistency from him when he is on the Mets roster is less of an overreaction and more of an optimistic take on this veteran outfielder.

Spring Training statistics are often deceiving for a variety of reasons. The competition level. The sample size. The fact that the games don’t count and pitchers will toy with things. It’s perfectly acceptable to be impressed by what Locastro has done.

Let’s meet somewhere in the middle. Locastro will be a dangerous weapon for the Mets in the final weeks of the season and into the playoffs. He’ll also be more than an automatic out.

3) Positive NY Mets overreaction: The bullpen has a ton of hidden gems

This overreaction is something I’m sure takes place every spring in one direction or the other. The Mets actually have several relievers pitching well this spring. John Curtiss, Sam Coonrod, Stephen Nogosek, William Woods, etc. have all held the opponent at bay. It’s nice to see, but nobody should be ready to count on any of them to get through the season pitching at this high of a level.

If one or two of these arms and any of the other guys in the mix for relief innings turns into something, the Mets can consider themselves lucky. Billy Eppler was especially active this offseason trying to find fringe-MLB players. He made multiple waiver claims, signed a couple of minor league free agents, and a few other Mets pitchers who have been with the team in the minors are now a little bit closer.

Overreactions are a huge part of being a fan. It’s fun to see Bryce Montes de Oca throw hard and embarrass hitters. When it’s happening in March, it’s easy to get caught up and believe he’ll do it for months.

Fortunately, this overreaction is more tempered than some of the others. Nobody is ready to remove Edwin Diaz from the closer role in favor of Curtiss simply because he has been so good in these early exhibition games. Mets fans, maybe more than some others, know that a few good innings in the preseason don’t always translate into many more during the regular season.

We can all compromise and good faith that when all of these relievers combine their powers together, things will turn out the best they can.